| |
|
« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings UCLA School of LawIntroduction The University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (or UCLA for short) is a relative newcomer to the top tier of law schools. Established in 1949, the school quickly gained prestige and acquired a formidable team of professors, securing its place just below the “Top 14” law schools (as dictated by US News and World Report). Currently, UCLA is ranked 15th, the third highest ranked school in California (behind Stanford and UC Berkeley). Many say that the young school is still on the rise, including Robert Schwartz, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid:
UCLA is also an attractive choice for many applicants because of its location: beautiful southern California. Those who are tired of the cold winters in the Northeast or Midwest can find refuge in the sunny state of California. This combination of academic rigor and fabulous weather should make UCLA Law a tempting law school for any applicant. Admissions Tuition and Fees Tuition is a hot topic for all of the UC schools at the moment due to the state’s budget crisis. It is probable that tuition will continue to rise for the next few years, thus erasing the school system’s reputation for its relative affordability. However, for the 2009-2010 school year, in-state tuition was $31,103 and out-of-state tuition was $41,624. While this difference of more than $10,000 may prove discouragingly high, non-residents should take comfort in knowing that they can generally achieve residency – and thus the lower tuition rate – within one year. Students should also be prepared to pay for room & board, books, and miscellaneous fees. With all of these costs included, the total cost of attendance at UCLA is currently roughly $57,000 for California residents and $68,000 for non residents. Given that this amounts to a three-year total of more than $170,000 (at the very least), the prospect of investing such an amount can be daunting. However, UCLA is generous with its financial aid. Currently 61% of UCLA admits receive a financial aid grant from the school. While the large majority of these students (54%) receive grants totaling less than half the cost of tuition, 7% receive grants above such a cost. Overall, the median grant was $6,900 last year, as reported by LSAC. Most students, however, do end up borrowing money to finance their legal education. Fortunately, unlike students at some schools, where current poor employment prospects might make such debt unjustifiable risk, UCLA Law graduates generally enjoy stellar career prospects. The Numbers Obtaining an acceptance letter from UCLA Law is not an easy task by any means; last year, only 16.5% of applicants were accepted. The school received over 8,000 applications and made only 1,331 offers. Of those 1,331 offers, 304 students decided to matriculate. As of last year, UCLA’s LSAT median rests at an impressive 168, with its 75th percentile and 25th percentile being 169 and 164 respectively. The school’s UGPA standards are similarly rigorous, with a median of 3.74, a 75th percentile of 3.87, and a 25th percentile of 3.49. The application fee is $75, unless one obtains a merit-based fee waiver via LSAC’s Candidate Referral Service or a need-based fee waiver via e-mailing UCLA’s admissions office. Beyond the Numbers However, the admissions process at UCLA Law isn’t just about the numbers. Dean Schwartz emphasizes that other factors can make the difference in his exclusive interview with Top-Law-Schools.com:
In other words, one would be mistaken to think that meeting the above LSAT and UGPA medians is sufficient for admission to UCLA Law. To the contrary, the admissions office at UCLA, like other schools of similar caliber, receives more than enough applications from students with adequate numbers; thus, they also look to less quantifiable “soft” factors when making their decisions. Applicants should invest a serious amount of time and effort in their essays, emphasizing their unique life/work experiences, extracurricular achievements, and any factor that would bring an element of diversity to the UCLA student body. Personal Statements One of the best ways to exhibit something interesting about yourself is through your personal statement. Dean Schwartz remarks:
Because the personal statement is such an important part of the application process, it is essential that you give yourself ample time to brainstorm, write, and revise. In particular, Dean Schwartz remarks that the essay should be written in a “professional and formal format.” Writing your essay in iambic pentameter, for example, will almost certainly get your application tossed in the “rejection pile.” Also, make sure that you don’t accidentally include another school’s name in your application; telling UCLA how much you’d love to attend UC Berkeley isn’t going to win you any love. If UCLA is truly your number one choice, incorporating that fact into your personal statement is definitely seen as a positive mark by the Admissions Office. Dean Schwartz says that “we are interested in any attributes, experiences or interests that would enable you to make a distinctive contribution to UCLA Law.” UCLA Law also accepts diversity statements, asserting that “anyone who wishes to provide such a statement should do so.” A diversity statement should be seen as yet another chance to separate yourself from your fellow applicants. Diversity isn’t just limited to ethnicity or culture, either; one can make an excellent topic out of one’s socioeconomic condition or sexual orientation. For more information on law school admissions essays, you can access the Top-Law-Schools guide to personal statements here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/guide-to-personal-statements.html. When to Apply Dean Schwartz had the following to say about applying early:
That being said, it’s probably better to submit your materials in September rather than February. On the data-collecting site lawschoolnumbers.com, many UCLA Law applicants have already reported their decision status by December (accepted/waitlisted/rejected). Even if decisions aren’t made on a strictly-rolling basis, the fact remains that there are more spots open earlier on in the admissions cycle. Letters of Recommendation UCLA requires at least two (but no more than three) letters of recommendation with your application. The school also requests that at least one letter come from an academic source. As with most other schools, UCLA Law suggests that you get letters of recommendation from professors or employers that know you best. Dean Schwartz says:
Multiple LSATs and Other Addenda UCLA mainly considers an applicant’s highest LSAT score, although it will look at all of them. Dean Schwartz says:
One should also consider writing an addendum if one has an issue with one’s UGPA, such as a downward trend. The school will take into account factors like family illness, work responsibilities, etc. when making its decisions, and an addendum can help mitigate the damage of a lower GPA. Waitlisted? If you end up on the waitlist, all hope is not lost. Dean Schwartz remarks that the school “admit[s] a significant percent of our class each year from the wait list,” although exact numbers are not readily available. In fact, Dean Schwartz even encourages applicants to contact the school directly to “discuss their chances of admission.” The school also encourages applicants to submit periodic LOCI (or letters of continued interest). These updates can be submitted as often as once a month “either via e-mail at admissions@law.ucla.edu or standard mail to the Office of Admissions at UCLA School of Law.” Dean Schwartz has the following advice for LOCI:
Often, candidates wonder what else they can do to get off the waitlist. Unfortunately, the answer seems to be “not much”:
Transfer Students The application process is quite a bit different for transfer students. Last year, 38 students transferred into UCLA and 10 students transferred out. Dean Schwartz gives the following criteria on reviewing transfer students:
Thus, if you’re not a good standardized test taker and bombed the LSAT, you could conceivably transfer to UCLA if your first year grades are good enough. That being said, going to a school with the idea of transferring is always a bad idea just because it’s so difficult to get accepted as a transfer student. In general, one should be happy attending their 1L law school choice. Final Words about Admissions One should feel immensely privileged to obtain an acceptance to UCLA Law, as it is one of the finest law schools in the country. If one is lucky enough to have a choice between UCLA Law and other top law schools, Dean Schwartz has the following wise words of advice:
Law School Culture One of UCLA’s biggest draws is its fantastic location. The school’s proximity to Los Angeles allows students to experience a bustling city, but there is the opportunity to relax as well. The school’s campus is cradled in rolling green hills about five miles from the Pacific Ocean and bordered on the north by the protected wilderness of the Santa Monica Mountains. The law school offers a full array of performing arts including concerts, theater, ballet, opera, and the symphony as well as lectures, forums, and seminars--both throughout the city and at the law school. Dean Schwartz explains in detail:
Meanwhile, Los Angeles serves as a major cultural and recreational hub, hosting various sporting and entertainment events and offering scores of theaters, museums, and cultural centers. The city’s global reach, environmental diversity (where you can hike, snowboard, and go to the beach all in the same day), and perpetually desirable weather further enhance the quality of life for our law students. The only negative that Dean Schwartz mentions is the heavy traffic of the Los Angeles area, but this can be “easily avoided by living on campus or close to campus.” However, what do the students think about living at UCLA? Unsurprisingly, they seem to agree with the Dean that the Westwood area (where UCLA is located) is a wonderful place to spend three years. One student (named rward2007 on TLS) writes:
If you want to get the full UCLA Law experience, then Weyburn Terrace, the campus apartment buildings, is a popular location to live, especially for first years (or 1Ls). Another student (named palmstar on TLS) remarked: “LIVE IN WEYBURN. Trust me. It is the center of social life for 1L's and you will be so left out if you don't live there.” Many 1L activities tend to revolve around Weyburn Terrace and the surrounding area, so living elsewhere might make it more difficult to bond with your classmates. Rward2007 further emphasizes this point, stating: “Most students live in the Westwood area. Most students who don't live in Weyburn live off of Wilshire (south Westwood). I live in Weyburn, which is fantastic. For what I'm paying (1k/month, everything included - except parking), it's a great deal.”
UCLA Law, like other top law schools, is dedicated to putting together a diverse group of individuals in each entering class. For the class of 2012, the student body is equally divided between males and females (51% and 49%, respectively). Students of color make up 32.8% of the class, with African Americans making up 5.3%, Asians making up 17.8%, Hispanics making up 8.4%, and Native Americans making up 1.3%. The age of students ranged from 18 to 40, with the average age being 25. California residents make up 69% of the class, with non-residents making up 31%. Students came from 33 states and 9 foreign countries, and 110 undergraduate schools are represented. The most represented undergraduate schools (by number of students enrolled) are mostly located in California: UCLA, UC Berkeley, University of Southern California, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and Stanford University. However, several other Ivy League universities also make an appearance: University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, and Harvard University. Making Friends Many students are nervous about networking and making friends when they first arrive at law school. However, TLS user palmstar reassures prospective students that making friends is “really, really easy”:
Another student emphasizes this point, stating, “UCLA Law School is a nurturing haven where the professors have coffee with you and the person to your left is sporting a genuine smile.” That being said, the same student warns that things can get a little insulated at UCLA:
Also, competition can get fierce when memos are due and exams are coming up:
In general, though, many students report that making friends at UCLA Law should be a relatively painless process. Facilities Students seem to agree that one aspect of UCLA where there is room for improvement is in the learning facilities of the law school. Rward2007 describes the two lecture halls as “horribly outdated and too large,” and remarks that the “smaller classrooms are better, but still not perfect.” However, he concedes that “the law library is incredible, and as a student, that's where you're going to spend most of your time anyway.” However, the school does offer an exceptional selection when it comes to athletics. Students can take advantage of extensive tennis and racquetball courts, a full-service gymnasium and recreation program, four swimming pools, playing fields, and running tracks. Extracurriculars Like many other top law schools, the choices are practically endless when it comes to extracurricular activities. There are over 30 different student organizations to get involved with; some include the Animal Law Society, the China Law Association, and the Environmental Law Society. Students can get involved with the UCLA Law Softball League, soccer, intramural basketball, etc. Just go to the website and take a look for yourself! Journals UCLA Law has thirteen different student-run journals that span a variety of subjects. Some examples include the Entertainment Law Review, the Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law, the National Black Law Journal, and of course the UCLA Law Review. UCLA is very proud of its Chicano/a – Latino/a Law Review, the first law review to focus specifically on issues within the Latino/a community. Pieces can be submitted to journals for review and eventual publication. To find out more about the various journals offered at UCLA, click here. Academics Unsurprisingly, in terms of academics, UCLA Law is one of the top schools in the country. Brian Leiter, the University of Chicago professor and rankings guru, places UCLA Law’s faculty as the 10th best (by mean per capita) in the nation based on scholarly impact. In terms of entering students’ numerical (LSAT and GPA) quality, UCLA ranks 15th in the nation. UCLA is also strong in many different specialties: intellectual property law, environmental law, trial advocacy, clinical training, international law, and particularly tax law. Finally, given the school’s location in Los Angeles, it is not surprising that UCLA Law is also regarded as having one of the nation’s finest programs in entertainment law. The curve for classes at UCLA Law is pretty generous and depends on the performance of your class as a whole. For 1Ls, the protocol calls for 25-29% (target 27%) As, 41-52% B/B+s, 18-22% (target 20%) B-s, and 5-8% grades of C+ or below. The standards are more flexible for 2Ls and 3Ls, with 23-27% (target 25%) As, 50-60% B/B+s, 17-23% (target 20%) B-s. For these students, C+ grades and below aren’t mandatory, so professors can give them at their own discretion. The school also offers several joint degree programs with many other graduate programs, including the highly regarded Anderson School of Business. Students interested in joint degrees, however, should be aware that scheduling conflicts are common, since UCLA Law School is on the semester system and the rest of the campus is on quarters. Dean Schill emphasizes that taking classes in other departments is possible; it just requires planning. Public Interest UCLA Law’s David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law & Policy is an “unbelievable public interest program.” Professor Ann Carlson sums up the program:
Dean Schill further explains:
The program “provides an array of opportunities for students to hear speakers, work on current policy problems, and become involved in public interest activities outside the School of Law.” In other words, the school really takes care of its public interest students; you get your own curriculum, a core group of faculty that supervise and mentor you, and a small, tightly-knit group of public interest students to bond with and learn from. Most students enter the program for their 1L years, but the school reserves a small number of slots (approximately five) for students wishing to apply for their 2L years. There are a number of fellowships that one can receive for summer funding, and one can also pursue non-UCLA funding opportunities. The Office of Public Interest Programs maintains a database where one can find “information about specific sources of auxiliary funding available nationwide to support summer public interest work.” The school also has a LAP (or Loan Assistance Program) where public interest students can get most of their loans forgiven if they stay in public interest work after graduation. More information can be found on UCLA’s website. If you’re a particularly strong candidate for admission at UCLA Law, you might be offered the Emil Joseph Stache Scholarship. This scholarship is for full tuition and is awarded to only two students every year. The scholarship is initially only effective for one year, but can be renewed if one achieves “satisfactory academic performance and full participation in Program activities.” Clinics The Clinical Program at UCLA Law is superb. Students can pick from nearly twenty different in-house clinics, ranging in subject and scope from immigration to criminal defense. UCLA has opened up three new clinics for the 2009-2010 school year, including a bankruptcy transactions course, a civil rights litigation clinic, and a regulatory lawyering clinic. UCLA is proud of several distinctive features of its program. First, the clinics at UCLA focus on “teaching transferrable skills.” This means that clinics work to create conceptual frameworks for students. This broader lesson plan creates a strong foundation for specific skills that students have to learn. This allows students to be better lawyers and to utilize skills over a larger and more substantial area. In the more specialized clinics, students get hands-on experience in representing actual clients or simulated clients in realistic scenarios. The school also has an interesting “borrowing” system, where clinics will become co-counsel with local public interest organizations and law firms on certain cases. UCLA’s website explains:
Finally, the school’s externship program is worthy of mention. The school gives students the opportunity to extern in a judge’s chambers or for a government or non-profit organization. Students enroll either in their fourth or fifth semesters at the law school, and they receive class credit for their work. Judicial externships are confined to the Los Angeles area, but students end up in cities as varied as New York and Washington D.C. for the government/non-profit externships. To learn more about UCLA’s fantastic clinics, click here. Professors As with any other school, the professors can be hit or miss. One student described his experiences: “Two of my professors this year have been HORRIBLE – as in unbelievably bad. Two of them actually have been really cool and I really liked them.” Of course, different students will like different professors; maybe this student was just unlucky. Another student wrote a glowing review of his 1L year’s professors:
One of prospective students’ biggest fears entering law school seems to be the dreaded “Socratic Method.” This idea that law professors love to humiliate their students has permeated common thought (perhaps because of the movie “The Paper Chase”?), but fret not! A student reassures us that the Socratic Method isn’t the worst thing in the world:
Finally, for exams, one student just advises that you “do all of the practice answers, and practice writing in the same style as the samples they provide.” There is plenty of advice about study guides, supplements, pre-law-school reading, etc. littered throughout the TLS forums that will help you out, so search around and you’re sure to find some answers! Employment Generally, when students come to UCLA, they stay for the entire three years. LSAC reports that the JD attrition for last year’s 1L class was only 4.6%. That attrition rate drops rapidly for 2Ls (0.9%) and 3Ls (0.8%). In other words, you’ll be competing with the vast majority of your 1L classmates for jobs when OCI time rolls around. Likewise, most students pass the notoriously difficult California bar the first time that they take it. Last year, with all first-time takers reporting, 85.94% passed the bar, versus the state average of only 71.15%. That’s a significant difference of 14.79%! In these troubled economic times, obtaining a job via OCI is never a sure thing. UCLA reports that 99.1% of its most recent graduates were employed after nine months (319/322), with 189 (or 59.2%) working for law firms. Other areas of employment include academia (12/322 or 3.8%), clerkships (35/322 or 11%), and public interest (28/322 or 8.8%). The vast majority of all of these graduates were employed in-state (251, or 78.7%). However, students seem to be telling a slightly different story in terms of just how promising job prospects are. TLS forum member palmstar remarks:
In other words, if you want a coveted firm job, you might have to pursue means other than OCI (On-Campus Interviews). Obviously, there are other jobs available in different sectors of the industry (public interest, government, academia, clerkships, etc.), but those interested in making the big bucks might have to put a little extra legwork into their job searches. Those who miss the Biglaw boat can end up working at small law firms in the area that pay much lower salaries. Palmstar speaks anecdotally:
While these kinds of anecdotal stories should be taken with a grain of salt, it does demonstrate that things might not be all sunshine and roses for all graduates over at UCLA. As expected, with the law market changing, summer associate opportunities are also drying up. Current student and TLS user seyhey confirms this:
So be ready to make good grades, brush up on your interviewing skills, and actually do some legwork if you want one of these coveted positions. With the market changing, many students are coming to the realization that they will have to find work elsewhere. Seyhey lists some of the possibilities for a 1L:
Things become slightly more promising when 2L summer rolls around; seyhey knows “plenty” of 2Ls that have associateships for the summer, though he concedes that he also knows plenty that don’t. For the students who are more interested in clerkships, the clerkship program is on the rise at UCLA. Dean Schill described increasing clerkships as one of the school’s “top priorities,” and the faculty and Dean Schill work together with students to phone judges and make recommendations. UCLA’s website also clarifies that “as a service to students, the Office processes faculty letters of recommendation, includes the letters in the student application packets and sends out the complete packets to all judges.” Finally, for aspiring academics, UCLA isn’t a bad choice either. The Dean is working actively to increase the number of people going into academic careers and is expecting “real returns.” The school just recently started a Law and Philosophy department, and wants to further expand with a Law and Economics department as well as a Law and Sociology department. Employment is a tricky subject right now, because no one is sure how the market will be restructured to accommodate the troubled economy. Nearly all UCLA graduates are still finding employment after graduating, and UCLA’s website reports the median private-sector salary as $160,000. In general, going to law school and trying to find a job is a stressful process, but with a little bit of luck and some legwork, it’s still possible to find a high-paying job in your field of interest. OCI is no guarantee anymore, though, especially for firms that are outside of southern California. But UCLA’s alumni network is very strong, and Dean Schill from UCLA argues that the only reason that most students stay in California is because of self selection; Dean Schill writes:
Thus, while Dean Schill might be exaggerating slightly, obviously some opportunities exist for students outside of California. Conclusion UCLA Law is a relatively young school, but it has quickly made a name for itself among the top law schools in the country. Students and faculty alike are excited about the changes currently afoot. Facilities are being renovated, new professors are being recruited, and the public interest program continues to grow. Combine those factors with the vitalizing atmosphere of southern California and the Los Angeles area, and you’ve got a school that should be tempting for any applicant. Interview: Dean Robert Schwartz at UCLA School of Law Contact and Admissions Information 71 Dodd Hall Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 16 |
Stanford Law School Yale Law School Harvard Law School University of Virginia School of Law Pepperdine Law School Northwestern Law School Cornell Law School Michigan Law School Golden Gate Law School Duke Law School Columbia Law School Temple Law School Loyola Law School UCLA School of Law Villanova Law School New York University Law School UC Hastings Law School Santa Clara Law School UPenn Law School Berkeley Boalt Hall University of Chicago Law School UC Davis Law School Fordham Law School George Washington Law School Georgetown University Law Center New York Law School UNC Chapel Hill Law School Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Emory University Law School The University of Iowa College of Law University of Minnesota Law School The University of Texas School of Law The University of Southern California School of Law (Gould) Vanderbilt University Law School Washington University in St. Louis School of Law Wisconsin Law School The University of Alabama School of Law George Mason University School of Law The University of Colorado School of Law Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington University of Notre Dame Law School The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law The University of Illinois College of Law The University of Washington School of Law William & Mary Law School Washington and Lee University School of Law The Arizona State University College of Law The Baylor University School of Law The Case Western Reserve University School of Law The University of Georgia School of Law The Brigham Young University Law School The Southern Methodist University School of Law Tulane University Law School The University of Connecticut School of Law University of Florida Levin College of Law Wake Forest University School of Law Vermont Law School The University of Utah College of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University The University of Tennessee College of Law The University of Cincinnati College of Law The University of Pittsburgh School of Law University of Maryland School of Law The University of Kentucky College of Law The University of Houston College of Law The Florida State University College of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law (Illinois Institute of Technology) Brooklyn Law School University of Arizona College of Law American University College of Law University of San Diego School of Law Northeastern University School of Law University Of Miami School Of Law University of Richmond Law Oregon School Of Law Lewis & Clark School of Law Rutgers Law - Camden South Carolina Law Seattle University School of Law PSU School of Law Canada: University of Toronto Faculty of Law DePaul University College of Law Rutgers-Newark School of Law Hofstra Law School Seton Hall Law School Missouri - Columbia Law School Indiana University Indianapolis Law Buffalo Law School UNLV Law School St. John's School of Law The University of Denver Law School University of Louisville School of Law The University of Oklahoma College of Law Georgia State University College of Law Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Loyola University Chicago School of Law Marquette University Law School University of Kansas School of Law Canada: University of Alberta Faculty of Law St. Louis University School of Law University of New Mexico School of Law Catholic University's Columbus School of Law The University of Maine School of Law Gonzaga University School of Law The University of Arkansas School of Law University of San Francisco School of Law Canada: Dalhousie Law School Canada: McGill University Faculty of Law Canada: University of Ottawa Faculty of Law Canada: Osgoode Hall Law School (York University) Canada: UBC Faculty of Law IE Law School- Northwestern Law Executive LLM Program IE Law School- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Practice University of California – Irvine School of Law |
The Student Body